Toronto school board to stop buying Macs

[M_Guy]

The decision, which surfaced late last year, is now under fire from one school board trustee, who argues that students and staff should be exposed to more than just one computing platform.

http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/to...ng-macs/139677

Note that they are considering choosing Linux-based computers as their school standard. If costs savings is the motivator, then going Linux is not a bad idea.

[hkaye]

Heh, read the comments, it is just me, or does anyone else get annoyed when someone types MAC instead of Mac. It's like they are shouting and getting angry instead of talking about computers.

After all, no one says, I'm going to get a FORD vehicle instead of a CHRYSLER or a VOLKSWAGON.

And I don't really think it's that important to expose kids to computers in school. Teaching them the basics and how to use a pencil and paper is better.

[JamesK]

I also agree that kids should be taught more basics. However, when they use a computer, they shouldn't be left with the impression the computer world starts & ends with Microsoft. For most of what people use a computer for, there's no need to use any Microsoft product.

[99gecko]

students and staff should be exposed to more than just one computing platform

So what's the problem?

The teachers and kids can now learn Linux if they want to be exposed to more than one enviroment.

[Francois Caron]

Tomorrow's headline:

"Apple donates millions of dollars of hardware and software to TDSB"

[99semaj]

The new internal IT policy...

So the IT department gets to choose? Heh, I see this policy getting some serious scrutiny in a hurry.

It would be nice to see Linux get some exposure, though.

[spensar]

If Apple donates, that's fine. But when I look at the Apple website, the computers start at $1,200. You can get 2 basic non-gaming Windows computer for office applications and Internet for that much. I know that there is educational pricing but there appears to be a real cost issue here.

[TorontoColin]

I'd also be interested in seeing what they pay for these Macs. Unless they are vastly discounted I would imagine that they can get far more value for their money with PCs. As it's taxpayer money I'd rather they get the most bang for their buck.

[recneps77]

Because, you know, you NEED an "Apple" pc to install OSX.
And linux was already mentioned.
I think schools should be teaching linux at a very early age.
If children learn that there are alternatives out there, microsoft's reign may actually fall one day...

[cm023]

Must be nice that they could even buy new computers in the first place, let alone Mac's. We just attempted completing a project in Adobe Premiere (Elements) on my schools referb P4's w/ 512mb of ram. Long story short I ended up doing it on my Macbook. You have no idea what I would do for a computer lab up to the standards of the last 3 years, let alone a Mac Lab.

[redzone]

there's no need to use any Microsoft product.
2010-01-11 04:03 PM

Do you work in the business sector at all? I have to say the standard is Windows and MS Office.

It would be neat to teach them linux though. i wish i had learned it.

[Pinza]

That might be the standard but I have used Open Office and no-one at my old office had any idea I was NOT using MS Office.

[JamesK]

I work in telecom, but I have done computer support at IBM. People need to do various functions, such as email, word processors, spreadsheets etc. None of these require anything from Microsoft. In situations where there's only Windows apps available, many can be run in Wine or the commercial Crossover Office. Those that can't can often be run on a server via remote access. Then start looking at the costs of running Windows etc. Not only do you have the initial licensing costs (which tend to increase), you also have to worry about viruses and other malware, that adds significantly to the cost of use, not to mention you have to keep on buying new hardware to keep up to date. If more people were aware of the alternatives and benefits, there's be a lot less running Microsoft software.

As for learning Linux, why not just install it and start learning. You can have both Linux and Windows on the same computer or use one of the 'live" CDs to boot into it, without installing.

[TorontoColin]

Originally Posted by cm023

Must be nice that they could even buy new computers in the first place, let alone Mac's. We just attempted completing a project in Adobe Premiere (Elements) on my schools referb P4's w/ 512mb of ram. Long story short I ended up doing it on my Macbook. You have no idea what I would do for a computer lab up to the standards of the last 3 years, let alone a Mac Lab.

With a school board the size of the TDSB obviously you'll need to be buying computers constantly. Don't think for a second that every computer gets replaced every 3 years, but even with a turnover time of 6-8 years (which from my high school days seems more accurate) you'll still be buying a new lab or two for most high schools every year, not to mention growing use in grade schools.

One of the advantages to Microsoft or Apple products is that in the case of widespread problems you have a vendor to (hopefully) assist you with troubleshooting. With open source based software you have no such safety net, thus there is less willingness for an organization like the TDSB to base too much of their infrastructure on Linux. That said, I'm sure they have already begun investigating the possibility and it's probably only a matter of time.

[spensar]

So which variant of Linux should they choose.